|
You are here >> Home - Reports - Abroad - Mexico ’99
Mexiko 1999/2000
The Dives
Most of the dive spots are located just outside Akumal beach, so the trip in the (quite small) boat never took longer than 25 minutes. Prior to the trip buddy teams were put together, with the staff (not always successfully) trying to put together people with a similar level of experience. Under water the teams follow the guide
His first dive as a certified diver and he encountered 2 turtles and a stingray ...
 |
who also keeps an eye on the less experienced divers, and checks their air supply. Although all my dives were guided ones, the buddy teams could explore the reef in a leisurely fashion (as long as they stayed within sight of the guide). The guides I encountered were keen to show us interesting or especially beautiful spots, but it was optional. If you looked at other stuff and fell a bit behind the group, that was ok, too. The group ascended together, always observing the safety stop. During the stops the guides demonstrated what it means to have perfect buoyancy control, Lupo, one of the guides, particularly impressed me: floating face up, relaxed and completely motionless, he blew one air ring after the other towards the surface. No mean feat since the sea was not exactly calm. Dive time and depth is strictly calculated with the PADI Recreational Dive Planer. Divers who are low on air are put together and sent to the surface, where they are collected by the boat. The dives were never hurried, always very relaxed. All in all I can say that the dives were really good, and the guides did their job very well, showing us the beauty of the reef without being obtrusive, always friendly and eager to help. I know that not everyone likes guided tours, but if you go on one, it should really be one like these.
If you don't like guided dive trips, it is possible to just rent the equipment and to go diving with a buddy directly from the beach. Since the bay is quite shallow (thus great for snorkelling) and the reef is quite a distance away, I never did this.
|
